Air-washer.



F. E. DONALDSON.

AIB, WASHER.

APPLIOATION FILED A1 n 1o,19o8.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. P. E. D01\ALDs0N.

AIR WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED APE.10,1908.

910,045 Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

RE. DONALDSON.

AIR WASHER. APPLIOATIONIILBDAPR.10,1908.

lPatented Jan. 19, 1909.

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www@ @Wfl/Vix@ F. E. DONALDSON.

AIR WASHER. APPLIoATIoN FILED APR.1o,19oa.

RAMI

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

l IIIIIIII UNiTnD sfrafrns riguar4 onine FRANK E. DONALDSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AIR-WASHER.

To all whom it Imay concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. DONALD- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Air-lVashers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of air washers used for cleansing, cooling, moistening and extracting moisture from air, forced into buildings for Ventilating and other purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide a device through which a maximum of air may pass with a minimum of friction ;r that will maintain a complete water curtain of Spray through which all the airmustpass with the least possible expenditure of mechanical energy; that provides the largest proportion of surface on which the air strikes and by which the water and organic matter is eliminated from the air; that will gather the water on the eliminating surface into numerous drops or streams on which the air impinges; that permits of the contin,- ued use4 of the same body of water; that will extract all organic matter from the water gathered from the air as it passes through the device; that will prevent any spray or any uncleaned air from passing through the device; that will secure a maximum of efficiency with a minimum of cost and space; and by which the temperature and humidity of the air maybe regulated.

The manner in which I accomplish my object is described in the following specifications and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a vertical side elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2--2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical elevation on the line 3-3, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of part of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of part of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an cnlarged elevation of part of Fig. 5. `Fig. 7 is a section on the line T-7, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8 8, Fig. l.

Fig. 9 is a cross section on the line 9-9,.

Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of a spray head. Fig. l1 is a cross section on the line llwll, Fig. 10.- Fig. 12 is a sectional detail showing'an extension of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 10, 1908.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909. serial No. 426,282.

In the drawings A indicates a cement floor on which the washer rests.

B is a casing constituting the frame in and to which the several parts are secured and supported. This casing is of sheet metal adapted in thickness to the size and position of the device, and consists of a bottom part B1, sides B1 and top B3. The front of the bottom part B1 constitutes an open tank E adapted to hold water u to the level of the top end C of an over ow pipe C1. This tank extends down below the level of the cement floor A. as shown in Figs. y1, 2 and 3. The rear edge of the bottom part B1 forms an upward curve B5, as shown in Figs. l and 2. Su )ported vertically between the sides -B2 and on the bottom part B1 of the casing B is a series of inclined planes D, troughs D1, gutters DL and D3. The drip points D4 and Vertical front edge `D5 of these planes are substantially in line with the edge of the tank E, and the vertical rear edge of the planes is same distance inside of the curved edge Bof the bottom B1 of the frame as shown in Fig. 2. An enlarged section of the planes D is shown in F igs.'4 and 7 enlarged face elevations in Figs. 5 and 6, and an additional form of construction is shown in section in Fig. 12. These planes are constructed of sheet metal bent or joined to form' the troughs D1, gutters D1 and D3 and the drip points D4. The faces of these planes are cut so as to form apertures F and li s G. These apertures are staggered in re ation to each other as rshown in Figs. 5 and 6, and the lips G are bent from the face of the inclined plane as shown in Fig. 7 to form vertically inclined planes as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Connecting the troughs D1 and gutters D3, are channels l-l, shown in Figs. 2 and 4 in which one side elevation and central longitudinal section is shown. These channels are located on the central vertical line and are of suHi cient width to convey the overfiow water from the gutters D3 to the troughs D1 as hereinafter described. Secured to the sides B1 of the frame and extending forward over the top of the front half of the planes D is a dellecting plate I, the purpose of which is hereinafter described.

casing B are a series of tubes J arranged in a vertical line one above the other andiextending horizontally in front of the planes D and some distance therefrom as shown in section in Fig. 2 and in elevation in Fig. '8.

These tubes are secured in the casing as shown in Fig. 8 by lock nuts J1 on the threaded'end J 2 of the tubes J. Supported on the external end of each of these tubes is a union joint J 3, which is locked thereon nally at each end and is closed at Vthe bottom by a cap L2 in which a blow-oli' cock L3 is secured. On the top of the tube L is a double elbow L4 having a double pipe connection L5 and L6, the purpose of which is hereinafter described.l Within the pipe L are two perforated cylinders M and N. The lower cylinder M rests on the cap L2 and is spaced fromthe interior of the tube L by the lugs O shown in Figs. 8 and 9,A and is removable with the cap L2. The cylinder N is fixed in the top of the tube L. This cylinder is flanged at the top N1 to lit the beveled edge of the tube L, to which it is axed, and is tapering in its length and thereby adapted tov fit in the upper end of the cylinder M as shown in Fig. 8. The lugs O are adapted to support the cylinder M at a greater distance from the aperture P in the tube L than from the opposite part of the interior of the tube, to allow a free flow of waterthrough the aperture P into the valves K. The pipe L5 is' connected with a suitable pump not shown, by which water is drawn from the tank E through the pipe LI and forced through the cylindersl M and N, tube L, valves K and tubes J. Supported horizontally in the tubes J are a series of spray heads Q shown in elevation in Fig. 2 and in section in Figs. 10 and 11. These heads are constructed of an elongated hollow body R, having an interior cross bar R1 and threaded hole R2 therein, and supported in this hole R2 is a solid bell shaped head R3. The exterior of this head is so spaced from the inte* rior of the body R as to permit a stream of water to flow therethrough as hereinafter described. I

When the several parts are constructed as herein described and illustrated and placed in a permanent position in any structure into which air is to be forced by the use of blowers in general use, and the pipes L5 and L7 are connected by a pump and the water supply turned into the tank E through the automatic valve E1, the operation is as follows: Water isidrawn from the tank E, forced through. the

elbow L, cylinders N and M, pipe L, valves K, tubes J and spray heads Q, and issues in circular sheets of spray. The spray heads being staggered in relation to each othenas shown in Fig. 3, the spray therefrom intermingles and covers the whole space in front of. the planes D between the sides B2 of the frame D, the tank E s and deflector I. Through 'this spray all air entering the washer must pass. The air thus saturated is forced against the face and lips of the inclined planes and the water and foreign matter in the air extracted and conveyed back into the tank. Referring to Fig. 4, this process of extractionis as follows: The saturated air striking the face of the lowest plane passes up the incline and strikes the underside and vertical lips of the intersecting descending plane beyond the trough D1' and is deflected against and through the as-y/ cending plane beyond the gutter D3 and out through the rear of the washer. The air which passes through the apertures F of the vlowest plane is deflected downward against As these lips and apertures'are staggered in y' each of the planes every particle of water and'material isforced into contact with the surfaces of the planes as the air is deflected upward and downward throughj'and between the planes in the same way from the bottom to the top of the series.' They-"spray caught and deflected by the deflec'tor I, passes through the slot I1 in the topB3 of the frame into the trough immediately beneath and the overflow therefrom runs down the face of the ascending plane in front to the gutter at the bottom and over the front edge down the drip points in dro s into the gutter immediately beneath. rear planes flows into the gutter D3, and through the hole H1 and channel H into the next trough at the Dlower end of the channel. This process is duplicated in each division of the series of planes from top to bottom. The

'water thus extracted from the air is entrained in the troughs and gutters, and descends throughv the apertures and from the lips and drip ,points in an increasing .multif tude of drops and streams through which the air mustpass after it passes through the sheet of spray, and must thereby yield up to the water all material impurities contained therein. These impurities are collected by gravitation in the tank E from which they may Lbe passed through the pipe C1, into the sewer, by the removal of the pipe C. All 1 mpurities which passup through the suction pipe L7 are collected in the perforated cylinders N and M, from which they can be removed through the cock L3 or by the removal of the cap L2. By passing steam through the pipe L, the water used can be heated and he water collected on the Y.

the humidity of the air, passing through the heated water be thereby lncreased.

It is obvious that by increasing the depth of the frame the number of inclined planes may be increased and their relative forms and positions be changed as indicated by the rear planes and gutters S in Fig. l2.

Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In an air washer of the kind described, the combination of a frame; with a series of perforated ascending and descending planes spaced vertically one above the other and affixed in said frame; a gutter connecting the bases of each set of descending and ascending rear planes; a trough connecting the tops of each set of front ascending and rear descending planes; a gutter at the base of each front ascending plane and drip points descending from the edge of each of said gutters; a channel affixed to each of said rear gutters and the trough adjacent thereto, adapted to conduct water from said gutter to said trough, and means adapted to produce and maintain a sheet of water spray in front of said series of planes and to thereby saturate all air passing through said frame and planes, as described.

2. In an air washer, the combination with a frame having a tank and deflector; of a series of inclined perforated planes spaced vertically in series and one above the other, each of said planes having 'pendent lips partly covering said apertures; a gutter connecting the bases of rear planes; a trough connecting the tops of adjacent planes; a transverse channel connecting the rear gutter and adjacent trough ada ted to conduct Water from said gutter to said trough; a gutter forming the front base of each front pla-ne, a drip platel vertically pendent from each of the front gutters; and means adapted to produce and maintain a sheet of water, spray whereby all air passing through said frame is saturated before it reaches Said series of planes, as described.

3. In an air washer, the combination with a frame and tank in the bottom thereof; of a vertical series of inclined perforated planes, each series of planes being connected longitudinally by a gutter and a trough, and the gutter above and trough below each series being connected transversely by channels adapted to conduct water from the gutter to the trough, and a gutter extending longitudinally at the front of the plane in each series of planes adapted to receive the water from said plane and planes above, andto convey it in drops therefrom, and means in said frame and connected therewith adapted to produce and maintain a sheet of water 'spray in front of said planes, as described and for the purpose specified.

4. In an air washer, the combination wlth a frame; of a vertical series of inclined planes and connecting gutters, troughs and channels whereby Water is collected on the surface thereof and carried forward from the rear to the front of each descending series, each of said planes being cutand thereby forming apertures and pendent lips, said apertures and lips being staggered in relation to each other in said planes; and means for producing and maintaining. a sheet of water spray in said frame in front of said planes, for the purpose described.

5. In an air washer, the combination with a frame, a vertical series of perforated inclined planes connected by gutters, troughs and channels, said series of planes being affixed transversely in said frame; of a series of tubes supported in said frame horizontally in front of said planes and vertically one above the other; and a series of heads affixed in each of said tubes adapted to produce a vertical sheet of Water spray covering the front of said series of planes; and means connected with said tubes adapted to force a supply of Water therethrough as described.

6. In an air washer, the combination with, a frame; a series of inclined planes, connecting gutters, troughs and channels transversely and vertically affixed in said frame; and a series of tubes in said frame extending horizontally in front of said planes; of a series of heads affixed in said tubes, each of said heads consisting of a hollow longitudinal body; and a bell shaped head adjustably supported therein, said head being spaced from said body and thereby adapted to produce a vertical circular sheet of water spray, the spray from said heads completely covering the front of said series of planes in said frame, and means connected to said tubes adapted to supply and force water through said tubes and heads as described.

7. In an air washer, the combination with a frame, a series of inclined planes vertically and transversely affixed in said frame, 110 said planes being connected by troughs, gutters and channels whereby water collected thereon and therein is carried continually forward on said planes; and a series of horizontal tubes supported in said frame and 115 spray heads affixed' therein adapted to deliver a vertical sheet of water spray in front of said planes within said frame; of a vertical tube connecting said horizontal tubes and means in said vertical tube adapted to 120 prevent all organic material from passing into said tubes and spray heads, and means for forcing a supply of water through said tubes as described.

8. In an air washer; the combination with 125 a frame, a series of inclined planes vertically and transversely affixed therein, gutters, troughs and channels connecting said planes; a series of horizontal tubes supported in said frame and spray heads sup- 130 i@ i I Y 910,045

ported in said tubes, andra Vertical tube con-v and means for forcing a supply of Water` necting said horizontal tubes; of a plurality through said cylinders, tubes and heads as of perforated cylinders Within said vertical described.

tube and spaced therefrom, adapted to re- FRANK `E. DONALDSON.

5 ceive 'all Water entering said tube and to Witnesses:

prevent all foreign matter from passing THOMAS J'. MORGAN, through said tubes vinto said spray heads, JOSEPH STAAB.y 

